SECRETARY`S NOTES
Where has the summer gone? here we are round to Autumn again with barely a decent weekend in the past months. Our output of slides has been severely reduced by again being robbed of nearly all our Photographic gear in France. This time we lost 10 exposed cassettes and 20 unexposed ones, all 3M 100asa. It leaves a very nasty taste in one`s mouth after taking 400 exposures to lose the lot.
Frank White of Area 13 has been awarded the first of our free films for his work of research on the causes of stain on film leaders and his other recent letters. Well done Frank.
As no one has come forward to run the Club`s Chemical Supplies and Oliver can no longer handle it, I have now taken on that responsibility. I am beginning to feel like a `one man band` and while I already have enough to look after I would not like to see this valuable service end. In the near future we shall supplement the chemical supply with the items needed to process with the official E6 formula.
After a lot of trial and much error, I have worked out a formula that is close to the official E6 as it is possible to get bearing in mind that the original had a separate bleach, fix and a conditioning bath. The formula and and a list of chemicals which are stocked will be given in the next Newsletter providing Bill has room for it. I have tested this home brew E6 over 25 films in five batches of 5 films, and it has worked faultlessly each time it has been used.
For the first time in 15 months Konica are out of stock of bulk film and we have to wait for a couple of weeks for the new stock to come from Japan. At least the members who are waiting for the film will know that they have their orders sent from freshly produced stock.
The club were recently enrolled in SRB Film Services Club call. Their sceme which is designed to help them and us works as follows. When they have special offers for filters and general accessories they will send us notice before the press have it. They in general will give a 10% discount on all the lines in their catalogue. The snag is how we can I let you know. It is fine for Camera Clubs who meet every week, but our newsletter goes out quarterly. I suppose the only way is for any member who wants filters etc. to get in touch with me and I will see what we can obtain. Its a bit hit and miss, but I can`t think of any other solution.
There is only one more thing for me this month, it is an appeal to you all to try and bring in some new members. You will have read in previous issues of the newsletter of the appalling loss of Area Leaders. We have in the club a very large number of members who have been with us from the start. It is obvious that we must have some new members who are younger to take things over in the future. If we don`t get them then the club will fade away. Please everyone try and bring in at least one new member each. Younger members of your family would be great. We have a lot to offer, cheap film, chemicals, information, newsletter etc. Help us to keep the club in a healthy state, we have your interests at heart.
Time to load the camera up with film for those gorgeous autumn tints now. Hope that you get a lot of good slides.
Ron.